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Meconopsis.

30 comments


I’ve decided to try growing the beautiful blue Meconopsis this year….has anyone had success doing this?
I’ve read they require a humus rich,moist soil …slightly alkaline to slightly acid…..
There is an area here running along the side of the house which has 3/4 of the day in shade….it is quite moist which they would like but I’m wondering just how much sun they need.
Today the sunny,dry conditions allowed us to, yet again, clear the leaves on the drive.I feel this could be the last time ! Fingers crossed.
The Daff bulbs which I stored over winter are already popping up..squirrels must have turned their noses up to those..

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Comments

 

No, Ive never managed to keep blue Meconopsis going, ground to dry in summer and too hot. A garden near us grows them well, but they have a stream running though their property and they are growing under the shade of trees out of the sunshine, beautiful, Im so envious. Good luck.

13 Jan, 2023

 

Ome of our HPS members does and I know he wrote a blog for our mag so I will look it out for you. be later possibly Sunday as we are having daughter's in laws over.

14 Jan, 2023

 

Siris those conditions you describe do encourage me...except for the stream but there is a pool !I can only but try....thank so much.

14 Jan, 2023

 

Eileen,there is no rush...Will look forward to reading that blog.

14 Jan, 2023

 

I have never succeeded, but wish you every luck

14 Jan, 2023

 

Good Luck ! and I think I'll try them again too. I think I'll try the seeds. When I bought a plant it died within weeks.

14 Jan, 2023

 

MEADOWLAND & HYWELL, 3rd attempt over the years. I grew mine from HPS seed (fertile blue group) last Spring in humusy slightly acidic soil in pots -did well -planted them out in a moist shady position - then -summer dryness, followed by rain rain rain -now nothing but swampy soil.
Best of luck.

14 Jan, 2023

 

Siris thank you for the feedback...thats a real shame.I will be brave and take on the challenge.
Thank you Hywel and Grandad.Hywel we will have to keep in touch about our progress in growing them !

14 Jan, 2023

 

Sounds a lovely idea Julia. I enjoy trying new things from seed so might try and do the same.

Siris, what is HPS seed?

14 Jan, 2023

 

Thanks Sheila...that's what I wanted to know too!

14 Jan, 2023

 

I am joining the group which had no success with them. I tried several times because I love them. They have a reputation of being difficult to grow, They never survived to next year for me.
Yes, they like partial shade...... out of hot afternoon sun.
I wish you luck Julia it's worth to try.

14 Jan, 2023

 

Ah Klahanie I'm hoping I can start the successful group alongside Hywel and Sheila! Watch this space.

14 Jan, 2023

 

I have checked back through the HPS blogs we have done in our East Yorks group and I| cant find the one on Mecanopsis. On further pondering I think the chap did a 10 min talk on growing them one Christmas. So sorry I have to let you dowwn.

HPS is the Hardy Plant Society. They have a seeds scheme where you can buy seeds that include some really unusual plants. I think single membership is £17 a year and you get a couple of journals a year that have excellent articles in them. Worth having a look at their website.

15 Jan, 2023

 

Many thanks Eileen, that does sound interesting … I will definitely investigate 🙂.

15 Jan, 2023

 

Julia, they are really pretty, I can see why you’d like to grow them. I’ve never attempted to, as my garden doesn’t lend to the conditions they require.
OH was out doing a ‘last’ sweep of the leaf fall yesterday, he didn’t need the vacuum blower contraption fortunately!
I’ve a few crocus in flower, hellebore x 1..the others in bud..and some crocus shooting through. No sign of my aconites yet.

15 Jan, 2023

 

Eileen no worries at all....I'm not sure whether to buy plugs or seeds...I'll look at the HPS.
Kate,they are so pretty and stately.

15 Jan, 2023

 

I’ve just looked in a useful book, “Growing Plants from Seed” by Christopher Lloyd and Graham Rice. They say grow Meconopsis seed in a peat based compost (I guess ericaceous) and some grit will help. “Sowing should be done no later than February, and the compost should never dry out.”
You seem to have picked the right time Julia!

15 Jan, 2023

 

Oh Sheila thank you for that info...I'm hoping our GC will have the seeds.

15 Jan, 2023

 

Good luck on your attempt to grow this beautiful blue Poppy, Shelia! I would never be able to grow them on the balcony as the summer months make it very hot with all the sunshine we get from about 11am till the sun sets!

Please keep us informed of your progress from time to time as we would all love to hear how they are doing.

15 Jan, 2023

 

WARNING! I joined the HPS and then discovered that it is too late to order seeds for 2023 🙁. But of course I can look elsewhere …

Thanks Balcony …

15 Jan, 2023

 

I've sent you a pm Sheila.

16 Jan, 2023

 

Julia, I grew these year's ago now. I think the seeds were from Amy, she had them.in her old garden. The first spring I had a few gorgeous blue flowers and the second, a,white one. I grew them in the shady and damp side of the garden. I first saw them in flower at a small plant nursery in Ambleside, fell in love right there and then..:))

16 Jan, 2023

 

Just the right conditions Janey...was the soil on the acid side?
How lovely to have had the first year of flowering. Will se how it goes.

16 Jan, 2023

 

Yes, I bet you have quite a few suitable areas? Yes, there's always a lot of decaying leaves too in the area where I grew mine. They didn't stay long though, I'm afraid.

19 Jan, 2023

 

Missed this one Julia, I've tried many times to grow them but cannot keep them going no matter where I try, even kept in a pot they never came back for a second year, hope you succeed....

4 Feb, 2023

 

Lincs,I've tried to find seeds but alas no joy...I decided to buy the bulbs from a Scottish nursery...2 of them...very expensive...no foliage..
Planted them yesterday following the nursery's advice...just have to keep my fingers crossed..Will update you through the month.I know Sheila and Hywel are starting with seeds it will be interesting to see how we all fare.

4 Feb, 2023

 

Good luck Julia! (I haven't found the seeds yet ... )

4 Feb, 2023

 

Oh no,Sheila..what will you do?.

4 Feb, 2023

 

Belatedly joining the failures. My garden was rather dry clay so no wonder they gave up. I have only seen them growing well once and that was in a damp woodland patch next to a stream. they are so desirable. Good luck and let us know what happens?

9 Feb, 2023

 

Well there is no stream here,sadly...but I've carefully looked through the garden here for suitable places in relation to their needs.It will be a wait and see position!

9 Feb, 2023

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